COVID-19: Hispanics are More Concerned About the Health and Financial Threat

By Neil P. First Posted: Mar 26, 2020 07:20 AM EDT

(Photo : Pexels)

A new survey shows that Hispanics are more concerned than Americans about the health and financial threats brought by COVID-19.

LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES

COVID-19 has impacted a lot of people's daily working routines around the world. It led almost all people and the industry where they are working into a full hiatus. This also left many employees with nothing except hope and faith.

The day-to-day financial situation is becoming worst amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. In the recently conducted survey by Pew Research Center as part of their Election Pathways project, it was found out that Latinos and Hispanics are more worried about the negative impacts brought by the virus.

There are nearly 60 million Hispanics and Latinos living in the United States and they are the largest minority group as well. Most of the Latinos work in the leisure, hospitality, and other service industries that include small businesses but they are less likely to have health insurance.

It can be recounted that Latinos were hit hard during the Great Recession experienced by the country more than a decade ago. It was just recently that Latino workers have seen their median personal income bounce back.

RESULT OF THE SURVEY

In a newly conducted survey by the Pew Research Center, the following are the results gathered:

Most Hispanics and the general public say that COVID-19 poses a major threat to the economy of the United States.
65 percent of Hispanic adults say that COVID-19 is a major threat to the health of the U.S. population.
50 percent of Hispanics say that the global health pandemic is also bringing a major financial threat while 34 percent of other Americans said the same. This means that Hispanics are more concerned than anyone else in regards to their financial status amid COVID-19.

Overall, based on the gathered data of the Pew Research Center, it is very clear that Hispanics and Latinos are more concerned about the financial and health threats brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOW THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED

The survey was conducted from March 10 to 16. It was the time that the country recorded its first death due to COVID-19 and at the same time before the U.S. Congress debated about $2 trillion economic stimulus. Moreover, the economic stimulus means that every taxpayer will have checks of around $1,200.

Most Latinos working in the U.S. will be affected compared to other Americans if they are forced to stop working due to the global health concern.

65 percent or two two-thirds of working Hispanic adults said that they would not get paid if they are forced to stop working for two weeks or more compared to 54 percent of other employed citizens.
47 percent of Hispanics said that it would be difficult for them to meet their daily expenses in this time of global health and economic crisis compared to 33 percent of the remaining Americans who shared the same sentiment.

It was also found in the survey that more Hispanic Republicans view the problems brought by COVID-19 as major threats compared to Republicans overall.

6 out of 10 Hispanic Republicans said that they see the health threat brought by COVID-19 as a major problem compared to 33 percent of Republicans overall.
There is also a difference between Hispanic republicans and Republicans overall on they view the problem brought by COVID-19 in terms of financial situation. Roughly 42 percent of Hispanic Republicans said it caused them financial problems while 29 percent of the overall Republicans said the same.

In this time of great distress caused by COVID-19 pandemic, Latinos and Hispanics are being very much affected. The largest minority group in the country has seen to be significantly contributing a lot in terms of the workforce and opening small businesses as well.